music and elvis were his motivation

By Pam Windsor

Stephen Shutts was very young when he first discovered Elvis.

“I was mesmerized as a young kid and I begged my dad to take me to see him in concert,” he recalls. “So, my dad became a fan, and we went to four Elvis concerts in Ohio where I grew up. Then I went to college near Memphis because of the history and that sort of thing.”

As he learned more about Elvis, his interest became a passion that evolved into a lifelong business. Shutts became a collector of all things Elvis and began buying, selling, and curating items once owned by the King. 

“Things like jumpsuits, jewelry, and other clothing,” Shutts says. “I’ve had a TV he shot out, I’ve had several of his vehicles. I have one of his snowmobiles sitting in my living room right now. Elvis gave it to a detective in Denver after a snowmobiling trip. I had a ski boat I found in a barn in Arkansas that’s currently on display in Graceland.”

He also began collecting Elvis' autographs and became an expert on authenticating Elvis’ handwriting. 

“Elvis never turned anyone away, so he signed thousands upon thousands of autographs. But there are also a lot of forgeries out there. And because he got immense amounts of mail and couldn’t sit down and sign everything, his secretaries would also often sign for him.”

Shutts has written a book that delves deeper into Elvis autographs in several ways. The book “Yours Elvis Presley” offers guidance in authenticating an Elvis signature, while also sharing personal accounts of people who got his autograph in person.

“The book is all about the encounters and the autographs obtained by people, and the stories they recall having met him. Then there’s a study guide, a separate booklet that goes along with it, that breaks down how to analyze Elvis’ autograph if you want to collect or study his handwriting.”

Nearly 50 years after his death, an Elvis autograph remains extremely valuable. Depending on the type and circumstances surrounding it, one can sell for anywhere between $1500 and $30,000.

Shutts, who never got to meet Elvis personally, says he’s amazed by what he hears from those who did. Those experiences remain vivid even decades later. 

“I've met so many people who were gate gals, people who hung out at the gates, or people who got to meet him backstage, and I wanted to document these stories in the book. Women can remember what he smelled like, what he wore, just everything. And guys recall a lot of things, too, because they thought he was cool.”

While Shutts spends a lot of time working with Elvis Memorabilia (he has a pop-up shop offering items for sale on his Rockology Facebook page every weekend), his expertise stretches into other areas, as well.

“I also deal in a lot of historic country,” he explains. “Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and then a lot of contemporary country as far as personal items and stage clothing. I handled the Charlie Daniels estate recently as far as partial liquidation, Jerry Lee Lewis and B.J Thomas, so I do a lot of celebrity estates and collections.”

He also had a show for several years on CMT that dealt with the search for memorabilia.

He enjoys it all, but there’s something special about Elvis. 

“I think because of his undeniable, incredible looks and charisma, he was clearly in his own class.”

It’s a fascination he shares with many around the world, including those he highlights in the book who actually met him. 

"It's like his presence is still here today when you talk to these people," Shutts says. "When people recall having met him, it's never sloughed off; it's like 'I met Elvis, let me tell you about him.' Sadly, it’s a dwindling class of people just because of age, but they all have a common thread of adoration and are fascinated with having met him. And a lot of times, he changed their lives in a lot of different ways."

To learn more or connect with Shutts, check out his Rockology Facebook page or website at https://www.rockologyllc.com.

As Franklin marks its 225th anniversary this month, the area’s oldest church and congregation celebrates right along with it. 

“We were founded on the same day as the city of Franklin and county of Williamson,” notes Jody Todd, Director of Marketing, Outreach, and Communication for Franklin First United Methodist Church. “Abram Maury, who founded the city and county, was a Methodist and provided land for a Methodist Church.”

That original church structure, built on what is now First Avenue, no longer exists, but a description in an early journal describes it as a “neat little brick building along the Harpeth.”

The church would grow along with its community, building its second location on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Church in 1830, a third in 1871 (called the Historic Sanctuary), and the newest within the last decade on what is now the Main Campus at Mack Hatcher. Services are still held today in the Historic Sanctuary and Mack Hatcher.

From its earliest days, the church has welcomed all who want to come and worship.

"As the first church of Franklin there were multiple faiths who would come, even though it was a Methodist Church," says Todd. "We were open to anyone as a place of faith in what, back then, was a very frontier town. And I think that speaks to our value of inclusiveness, which continues today."

The church has a rich history full of stories that reflect the people, the different places in time, and the strong faith of the people who worshipped here. 

Todd shares an interesting piece of the church’s history leading up to the Civil War.

“Our church archivist, Lisa Billingsly, has done so much good work in uncovering parts of our past. And in our second location, we had a personal connection with the AME Church in the Pull-Tight building across the street. This was the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a Black congregation, and where that church stands was a school then. Members of our congregation would teach children in that school. And that was something perhaps not well-received within our Southern community at the time. It shows when you’re not exactly sure what decisions are right or wrong, when you show up with love, it never fails.”

And through the years, although much in the world has changed, the church has remained strong by staying true to its core principles. 

“What has remained consistent are the values we are built upon,” Todd says. “Values like courage, confidence, support and compassion. It’s these and other values that have carried us the past 225 years and it’s in those values that will continue to move us forward.

"When you have values and a moral system of what you define your life by, then no matter what circumstances come, you're able to work through them. And you're able to show up in your community the best way possible. And we show up because first, we are called to love. And I've seen that in this congregation time and time again."

The church will officially mark its 225th anniversary during the weekend of October 26th and 27th. The community is invited to a music program at Franklin First UMC’s Main Campus (120 Aldersgate Way) that Saturday evening called “Come Away to the Skies." Then, on Sunday, it all continues with a Trunk or Treat event for the kids. 

Franklin First United Methodist Church is led by Senior Pastor Reverend Dr. Bryan Brooks. For more information, visit: franklinfumc.org

“For the past five or six years, the town had talked about building a new town hall,” begins Micah Wood, Thompson’s Station’s Interim Town Administrator and Town Planner. Fast forward to summer 2024, and Thompson’s Station has its long-awaited new home base, conveniently located just off U.S. Highway 31.

"We moved in just after New Year’s Day; that’s when we started having meetings in our new boardroom. And we had our open house on May 14,” adds Wood, who first worked for Thompson’s Station in the early 2000s and returned four years ago to help guide the community into its increasingly bright future.   

But as recently as last year, Wood and his colleagues were laboring under less-than-ideal work conditions in one of two different buildings. And even then, there wasn’t enough space to do all the work that needed to be done. 

In fact, when Wood and four of his colleagues worked in the old post office building, they typically had to step out onto the stoop to meet with property owners, business owners, and members of the public because there wasn't enough space or privacy to meet with them inside.

"We had no individual offices and no good place to have meetings with members of the public. And all of our board meetings had to be held in the Community Center, on folding tables and folding chairs,” he notes. 

Today, Wood & Co. labor in a much more welcoming and presentable environment.

“With the upgraded meeting space, we can welcome people in and talk to them in a more comfortable space,” elaborates Wood, who says his favorite thing about the new town hall is the boardroom.   

"One of the biggest benefits is having a purpose-built boardroom. It functions better, you can hear better, and it's more comfortable for the board members, commissioners, and for the audience, so no one is sitting on folding chairs for a three-hour meeting,” he says. 

More than that, the building—which offers more than 7,000 square feet of space—very much matches the community’s personality, having originally been built to serve as an auction barn before being converted. Wood highlights the rocking chairs and floral arrangements that decorate the wraparound porch, both of which contribute to the pleasant, Thompson’s Station-like vibe of the building.   

“It’s been a very positive change for the town staff, and also for board members, commissioners and members of the public,” he says, so much so that the town is poised to make the facility its permanent home. 

"Originally, we planned to lease this space for four or five years while we planned for a brand-new town hall, but it's worked out so well, and it's such a nice building that it would be a shame to turn around and move to another one we'd have to build from scratch. We have been working with the board to go ahead and purchase this building so we can stay here for the long haul,” notes Wood, who insists he enjoys working for the town more than ever before. 

“When you have a workplace that accommodates doing your work, it makes it a lot easier to get things done,” he notes. That is one reason he and his colleagues encourage local residents to come by and see what makes the new town hall such a valuable addition to the community. 

“We tell people our doors are open. If you missed our open house and want to swing by for a tour or sit on our rocking chairs, our doors are open for that,” he concludes. “We are making the new town hall more of a community building, as opposed to just a building that people will occasionally show up to for a meeting.”  

Better yet, the new town hall is well positioned to accommodate an increase in the size of the staff, thanks to purpose-built rooms that can be subdivided further. In fact, the town is already looking to add a few new employees. For his part, Wood believes the positions ought to be very attractive to potential candidates, in part because Thompson’s Station is such a compelling place to live and work.

"It's a great small town, it’s scenically beautiful, and it has great neighborhoods,” he concludes. “Plus, we have great board members and commissioners who are really civic-minded. It’s a fun place to work.”

CONTACT:

Thompson's Station Town Hall

1110 Fountain View Blvd.

Thompson's Station, TN 37179

615-794-4333

https://www.thompsons-station.gov/

As many as 550 cyclists are expected to gear up for an exhilarating adventure on October 5-6, at Bike MS: Bike to Jack & Back. This transformative event, organized by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, aims to raise awareness and crucial funds to support finding a cure for the disease. This year marks a celebratory milestone as it is the 30th anniversary of the Bike to Jack & Back.

This fully supported ride promises a spectacular route, ensuring an exciting journey for all participants.

Get ready to join forces with companies, colleagues, neighbors, friends and family to have a profound impact on the lives of people living with MS.

Bike MS boasts an impressive lineup of 50 rides across the country, each offering a unique and unforgettable experience. Two of these rides have earned the prestigious title of best road cycling events by USA Today.

Register today at https://events.nationalmssociety.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=1997 and join

us!

WHEN: October 5-6, 2024

WHERE: Eagleville, TN to Lynchburg, TN

https://events.nationalmssociety.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=cms.page&id=8333&eventID=1997

ROUTE OPTIONS: 48-mile and 72-mile route options

WHY BIKE MS: Each year, nearly 40,000 cyclists and 4,000 teams across the country ride together to change the world for people living with MS, one mile at a time.

PARTICIPATION/ VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION: bikeMS.org, 855-372-1331 or

fundraisingsupport@nmss.org.

At Ring Rods Hot Rod Shop, Tommy Ring builds "pieces of art that go down the road"

Tommy Ring is something of a god in the world of Rat Rod culture, having taught a generation of enthusiasts how to build so-called rat rods. 

"A rat rod is a car made of bits and pieces of anything and everything," begins Ring, owner-operator of Ring Rods Hot Rod Shop, explaining how rat rods differ from street rods, the latter of which are constructed using brand-new parts and assembled like a puzzle. 

By contrast, rat rods are made from whatever one can find at the scrapyard, with some parts fabricated from scratch. 

"That's the beauty of a rat rod," adds Ring, who says one can be made for a small fraction of the cost of a street rod. 

"A 20- or 25-year-old doesn't have sixty- or eighty-thousand dollars to put into a street rod, never mind a quarter-million. What twenty-something has that kind of money? But this is something you can do for $1,500, and you can't even buy an old Subaru station wagon for that," he adds. 

Ring spent the better part of a decade building two dozen or so rat rods, illustrating the process from end to end for readers of magazines like Rat Rod, Rod Authority, and Street Muscle.

"I would build one car per year for each magazine, and the process would be explained every step of the way: This is how you put together the steel frame, this is how you set up the front end, this is the read end, this is how you mount the motor….. Somebody with a subscription to the magazine had a complete road map of how to build a car," notes Ring, who says he has sold or traded approximately half of the rat rods he has built in his Thompson Station shop.

He has retained a dozen of his favorites. He says there are three he drives on a regular basis, including a pair of roadsters and a sedan that features the body of a '33 Plymouth, which was once owned by late singer-songwriter/NASCAR driver Marty Robbins.

However, any of the twelve cars would likely attract more attention than its share at a major car show. 

"It's funny, but if you go to a show that is a mixture of rat rods and street rods and you pull up next to a '64 Chevy Chevelle, I promise that two-thirds of the crowd will go to the rat before they go to the Chevelle. The rat is just something weird to look at," says Ring, who offers a Hot Roddin' on a Budget instructional DVD, which he sells on his web site for $25. Also available is his patented traverse spring bracket ($225), a part that facilitates mounting axles. 

These days, though, Ring isn't limiting himself to working on automobiles. The Arkansas native grew up playing music and working on cars, and made a living as professional musician through much of his youth. In fact, it was music that brought him to Middle Tennessee in the 1990s. 

So, it's no surprise that in recent years, he has released several albums, including Heartache and Highway 99. Now, with the help of some of Nashville's most esteemed studio musicians, he is in the process of recording several more. 

"I have written 900 songs over the course of my life that I have never had the chance to do anything with. Who knows, maybe one of the songs will get picked up. Surely, out of that many songs, there are one or two good ones," he quips.

And even if he fails to find commercial success as a solo artist, Ring says he has no plans to stop writing and recording. 

"I've got a music studio in my home, and I've written enough material for a couple new projects. As long as I'm breathing, I'm going to keep fighting," he concludes, insisting that he has no plans to retire from working on cars or making music. 

"I get up at 6 am every day, and I'm rockin' and rollin' till midnight seven days a week."

CONTACT

Tommy Ring 

Ring Rods Hot Rod Shop

615-275-6966

tommyring.net

ringrods@gmail.com

The past year has been a whirlwind for Amy Rottero (Ford), who was named Mrs. Tennessee America last spring and has spent a good portion of the past 12 months pursuing the wide range of opportunities that a Mrs. Tennessee enjoys. 

"I felt overwhelmed, grateful and honored," she says, when the then-Mrs. Brentwood first learned she had won the honor, which opened the door to a range of rarified experiences.

“It’s been amazing. The highlight was getting to speak at the Tennessee State Capitol about education reform, and I have been involved in an array of different outreaches throughout the state. Of course, I also represented Tennessee in the Mrs. America pageant,” she adds, which was held at the Westgate Resort in Las Vegas over the course of ten days in the summer of 2023. 

"Pageantry can sometimes get a bad rep, but it really is a place to find camaraderie with other women and to edify one another,” she says.

That said, it’s perhaps not surprising that Rottero spent a good portion of 2023-24 talking to young people about the importance of having a positive self-image, not to mention cultivating one’s own personal gifts and strengths. 

"My cause has been about women’s empowerment and girls’ self-esteem,” says the mother of three, who has two daughters and saw being Mrs. Tennessee as a chance to make a difference in the lives of countless young girls. “I think that self-esteem and how women view themselves really determines what kind of choices they make later in life.”  

That mindset has also made her an ideal champion for Queens Closet (an outreach started by Bernadette McCann, the director of Mrs. Tennessee America), one that provides gowns, makeup and accessories to underprivileged girls, so they can attend proms, homecomings and other events.

“During the course of the past year, we spent a lot of time making connections with local designers and stores like the Clothes Tree in Brentwood, which will donate gowns to inner city kids and kids that are struggling financially,” she adds.

Yet for all she accomplished in the past 12 months, Rottero believes it’s the ideal time to move on to the next chapter in her life.  

“I am going to miss being Mrs. Tennessee, but I am also ready to crown the next Queen,” which she will do when the 2024 Mrs. Tennessee America pageant. “I feel like I’ve been Mrs. Tennessee the perfect amount of time,” she says, before highlighting some of what she plans to do in the coming months. 

"I am currently working on a lifestyle brand called Amy Ford Lifestyle. I’ll also be doing pageant consulting and life coaching, and there are a couple other things that are in the works: maybe a new product, maybe a show of some kind featuring Tennessee and what Tennesseans are about,” she reveals. 

And even if not all of her efforts are fruitful, she insists that won’t dissuade her from pushing ahead with whatever she is inspired to do. 

In fact, Rottero would never have become Mrs. Tennessee if she hadn’t entered the competition a second time. 

"The first time I competed I didn’t win the title, obviously, and at first I didn’t know if I wanted to compete again. But I decided to give it another try, and I won the second time around,” she says, beating out contestants from all over the state. 

With that in mind, she has a few bits of advice for those who want to maximize their potential. 

"Always believe in yourself and be willing to take a chance on yourself. Your mistakes don’t define you, it’s all about the evolution and the journey,” she says. 

Where Williamson County History Comes Alive

“Tennessee history is really fascinating to me,” begins Illinois native Nat Taylor, managing director of the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center, which opened on February 6. Located on Bridge Street in downtown Franklin — and housed in a National Register of Historic Places building that dates to 1905 — the new venture aims to preserve, exhibit, and interpret the social, economic, and cultural history of Williamson County.

As for Taylor, he feels right at home — both in Middle Tennessee and in his new job — having moved to the area in 2017 after earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history in his home state.

"I came to Tennessee in my twenties, originally doing genealogy research and going to Nashville Predators games with my dad. I ended up tracing my family lines to some of the original settlers in this area,” he adds, so it’s fitting that he’s charged with both preserving and promoting Williamson County history, fresh off a six-year stint as an archivist at the Tennessee State Library and Archives. 

"What we've tried to do here is to preserve the stories of the people who have lived in the region,” explains Taylor, before noting that the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center was established by the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County, which has its headquarters next door. 

More notably, still, the Moore-Morris Center uses technology to tell stories in “new and innovative ways,” as Taylor puts it, with the “living portraits” a particular source of pride. 

When a visitor steps in front of one of the motion-activated living portraits, “the portrait comes alive and tells you a story about their life,” relates Taylor, with the words coming straight from the historical record and primary source material. 

"It's a much cooler way to tell these stories, as opposed to reading them on a placard or display," emphasizes Taylor, who says all but one of the portraits were created with the help of actors. 

The one exception is that of local entrepreneur and preservationist Calvin LeHew, who is part of an exhibit dedicated to the history of historical preservation work itself. LeHew tells his own story — about his life and how he became involved in historical preservation, for which he has become well-known. 

"But a lot of the individuals featured in the living portraits are not known to the public. They are more anonymous figures from this region’s past who simply have fascinating stories,” adds Taylor. 

As for the building itself, it was fully renovated after being purchased to house the Moore-Morris Center, having served as the county jail for three-and-a-half decades beginning in 1905. Before that the site was home to White’s Tavern, and one room is devoted to paying homage to said tavern.

"The Experience Room is set up like a 19th-century tavern, and Benjamin White appears as a hologram. It really sets the tone for the rest of the building,” promises Taylor, who says the interior design and décor of the entire facility came together quite nicely and really complements the many exhibits, all of which were developed by professional historians. 

In fact, the three-story, 6,000-square foot space is available to rent for private events, and figures to be a very desirable choice for both weddings and corporate retreats. 

That said, the Moore-Morris History and Culture Center is already a popular attraction for visitors interested in the many other stops on the local history tourism circuit. 

"We are seeing people from all over who are coming here to learn about our history, and most everyone I have met here has great questions. My favorite thing as a historian is answering — or helping to follow up on — those questions,” concludes Taylor, who believes that guests have been pleasantly surprised by how much the Moore-Morris Center has to offer.

"I don’t think people expect to see how big the building is once you come inside, and how much information there is to take in. That is testament to the planning that went into the facility and the research that historians did in creating the content.” 

CONTACT:

Moore-Morris History and Culture Center

108 Bridge St., Franklin, TN 37064

Hours:  Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone: 615-339-0594

https://williamsonhistorycenter.org/

Rick Warrick is well known for his deep love of local history and a passion for bringing it to life. He serves as Williamson County Historian, but his dedication to honoring and preserving the area's history began long before he took on the official title. 

Warrick is currently working on his 30th book highlighting the history of Williamson County. The latest is called "Burwood and Surrounding Communities," and like most of his books, this one will be chock full of old photographs. 

"I try to crank out at least two books a year," he says. "This one is taking some time because I've got more than 500 photographs."

He's found photographs appeal to nearly everyone, whether they're avid readers or not. 

"A lot of people may not like to read, but they love looking at old photographs," he explains. "And I've been fortunate to have a lot of people willing to share their photographs."

Pictures help tell stories, and Warrick says it's those stories that allow people to connect to things or events that took place long ago. It's something he figured out when he and his wife, Elaine, moved to Williamson County, and he began teaching high school history.

"In 1971, I began teaching in Leiper's Fork at Hillsboro School, which was a high school then," he recalls. "I had two classes of American history with juniors and two classes of students for eighth-grade social studies. And the textbooks were so bad, I had to start making my own."

He began focusing on local history and noticed what types of things resonated with kids and what didn't. 

"Basic facts like dates and things leave kids cold. So, I've always found history is best learned and enjoyed through a narrative, through stories. Because that's what history is really all about, telling a story from the past people can relate to."

Warrick is revered for his encyclopedic knowledge of Williamson County history. He's served as president of the Williamson County Historical Society, editor of the Williamson County Historical Society's annual journal, and on a number of boards, including the Heritage Foundation and many others. 

His many books began with a desire to highlight a specific time or place of local interest. Three of his books have centered on the Civil War. 

"I did one on the female experience in Franklin during the Civil War through letters, memoirs, diaries, and things like that. Another one on the reunions the Confederates had after the war. And I did one on the soldiers who fought in the Civil War through their letters and memoirs."

He says what made the book on those who fought in the Civil War especially interesting was a collection of letters that gave a complete picture of what one local family went through from both the husband and wife's perspective. The husband had sent his wife's letters home, so Warrick had access to his letters and hers. 

"You don't usually get that in war, you usually only get one side. In this case, you've got the whole story."

Warrick, who works from an office in the old jail on Bridge Street (the current home of the Heritage Foundation), says he's always learning something new about Williamson County's past.

"I'm amazed at what's still out there that I haven't discovered. Almost every day, someone comes in with a letter or an old photograph, or they have a story I haven't heard before. This county has such a wonderful history."

Warrick, who turns 77 in May, is determined to continue doing what he's done for decades, preserving as much history as possible.

There’s no limit to what people can accomplish when they’re dedicated to working together for the good of their community. Members of the Brentwood Franklin Woman’s Service Club have been proving that for the past 50 years. 

The group, which started in 1974, might have been considered more of a ladies social club when it first began. Still, even back then, women were dedicated to improving the lives of residents. Early projects included building a children’s playground at River Park in Brentwood and starting bingo at a Franklin-area nursing home. 

Since then, the focus has shifted even more toward “making a difference.”

"We definitely morphed more into a service club," says Julia Wooters, who serves as the Communication Liaison and has been a member for the past eight years. "Our club meets during the day, and for that reason, we have a preponderance of women who are not in the workforce because it's harder for them to meet in the daytime. We have retired women who are doctors, who've been executives, teachers, stay at home moms, and any walk of life you can imagine. These are woman who want to remain vital and do whatever they can for their community.”

They donate time, money, and support to a variety of projects, including five service area headings: Arts & Culture, Conservation & Environment, Education & Library, Health & Wellness, and Civic Engagement. Some are things they initiated on their own, like a Living History Walk at two local libraries several years ago that featured reenactors of famous people who lived in Williamson County. Others have club members working with established organizations like Operation Stand Down, the Nashville Diaper Connection, Barefoot Republic Camp, and many others.

"We support Thistle Farms, Bridges Domestic Violence Center, and this year our new focus is human trafficking," Wooters says. "We're working with Ancora, which is an organization that helps people who have been victims of human trafficking get back into the community and resolve the issues they have from that. Williamson County is a huge hub for that, and Nashville also, because of the interstates that connect here.”

In addition to the numerous programs it supports, the club also offers a $3000 Foundation Scholarship at Columbia State.

Over the past five decades, Wooters says the Brentwood Franklin Woman’s Service Club has provided more than four million dollars in goods and services to the community. 

They bring in money through different fundraisers like a Christmas luncheon, selling Christmas ornaments highlighting local landmarks, and, last year, a cookbook of favorite recipes. Members also pay annual dues of $50 per year. (New members pay $100 the first year, then $50 every year afterward.)

The club meets at the Franklin Library at 10:00am on the first Tuesday of the month. (There is no meeting in February, however. The group will return in March.) 

Being a part of a group that does so much for others can be very rewarding. 

"It's been wonderful for me," Wooters says. "As I said, since we meet during the day, many of our ladies are retired or self-employed. And when your children leave home or when your neighborhood turns over, which happens a lot in Williamson County, you’re often met with a little bit of a void. And this has been a fabulous way to meet like-minded people who are interested in giving back.”

Anyone interested in becoming a member or learning more can connect through the group’s Facebook page or website: https://www.brentwoodfranklinwomansserviceclub.com/

Ten years after the death of legendary country singer George Jones, the woman credited with turning his life around felt it was time to tell their story.

“After 30 years of being married to George and 32 years together,” Nancy Jones says, “if anybody knew George Jones, I did. And I wanted to set the record straight on how sweet he was, but also what I went through, with the help of the good Lord, to get him off drugs and alcohol. And I didn’t cut any corners; I told the truth.”

“Playin’ Possum” (referring to George’s nickname) is full of behind-the-scenes stories about George’s life in music, interactions with his famous friends like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, even his relationship with Tammy Wynette in the years after they divorced.

Nancy co-wrote the book with noted author Ken Abraham.

“Nancy’s a pretty good storyteller, so she made the job easy,” Abraham says. “But then doing the research and talking to people in Nashville, some of the people who worked with George on the road, and just putting all those memories together, you get to the core of the truth.”

Recognized as one of the greatest singers in country music with signature songs like “White Lightning,” “She Thinks I Still Care,” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today,” and others, George Jones was also well-known for his problems with drugs and alcohol. In fact, he missed so many of his own shows, that he was dubbed "No Show Jones." 

During their early years together, when his use of drugs and alcohol was at its peak, Nancy suffered a lot of physical abuse and details some of it in her book. But everything changed in 1999 after George had his near-fatal accident outside Nashville. He found his faith, learned to pray, and became the man she says she always knew he could be.

“From 1999 to 2013, I was so blessed,” Nancy says. “I was blessed because God stopped everything. There was no more drinking, no drugs, no nothing. I had the perfect husband.”

Readers get to see the generous and funny side of George and his relationship with other country artists he knew and loved. For Nancy, going back through years of memories was challenging but worth it. 

“I think I cried every day and every night when I started writing it,” she says. 

And yet, it was especially meaningful to remember those who helped her during difficult times, like Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings.

“I never would have made it without Johnny and Waylon helping me with George. Waylon was so precious, and Johnny never called him George; he always called him Little Pal. And anytime I picked up the phone to call either of them, they were always there for me. That's something I will always cherish.”

Nancy tells the correct version of the story people have heard for years about the wife who took George’s car keys away to keep him from going after alcohol, only to find George later driving to the liquor store on a tractor. She explains why George was reluctant to record “He Stopped Loving Her Today," thinking fans wouldn't like it. And she shares a story most people haven't heard about how George was initially supposed to be on the plane that crashed with Patsy Cline.

The book is Nancy's story, too. She touches on difficult health challenges such as her near-death COVID experience, her special friendship with Lisa Marie Presley and others, and why she decided it was time to write this book.

"With me being in the hospital in 2021, dying and coming back, it got me thinking, and I wanted to thank God for the healing power he put on me and George Jones," she says. 

And she’s hoping their story might inspire others.

“I wouldn't turn back nothing because I know God was me with through this whole thing, and George did, too. He wanted those demons gone, but it was hard to get them out of there, but we whipped ‘em all. George was a very spiritual person, and I want people to know that."

He’s a solo artist who just released his 15th album, a session musician who’s played with everyone from Carrie Underwood to George Strait to Lionel Ritchie, and he currently tours with the group Alabama. Gordon Mote is an accomplished, in-demand musician with a very busy schedule.

“I play on a lot of Nashville sessions, in the country world, and also the Christian music world,” he says. “I’ve also done a lot of pop music. I’m one of those guys who has his hands in a lot of baskets. I'm grateful to have a variety of things to do, and grateful people still want me to be a part of what they're in to.”

His journey to becoming one of Nashville's top musicians began in Atalla, Alabama. Blind since birth, Mote showed a gift for music at a young age. He was three years old when he stunned family members by sitting down at the piano one Thanksgiving to play “Jesus Loves Me” with both hands. He’s been passionate about music ever since. 

“My music is so eclectic today because I listened to every album I could find. My brother (who is also blind) and I traveled and sang in churches of all sizes and denominations.”

Mote attended Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, before transferring to Belmont University in Nashville. It was there he met his wife, Kimberly. The two were both Vocal Performance Majors and shared a deep love of music. She often sings on his albums.

“My sweet wife Kimberly and I just celebrated our 31st anniversary,” he says. “We have three children: Samantha, Parker, and Ashton. We’re very blessed.”

Mote got his start with Lee Greenwood, who hired him two days after he graduated college. As Mote's reputation as a musician grew in the years that followed, he began doing session work. 

“The first No. 1 song I ever played on was an Alan Jackson song called ‘Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning,” he says. “What really helped with my career was playing on all of those early Rascal Flats songs. I worked with them for many years, and their early songs have a lot of piano intros I came up with. Then I worked with people like Martina McBride, John Michael Montgomery, Lonestar, Mark Wills, and from there, things just kind of exploded."

In addition to his extensive session work, Mote is a singer/songwriter with several albums of his own. His latest is called Where You Lead Me.

“It runs the gamut of musical styles. I grew up loving so many different types of music, and as a studio musician, I play on so many different styles of music; I end up singing and writing different types of songs."

He jokes and says if you don’t like one song on his album, wait for the next one.

“The great Ronnie Milsap, when an album of his would come out, one song might be pretty country, then the next song might be pretty pop. I always really loved that about him. And not to use all blind musicians for definitions but think about Ray Charles and all the different styles of music he’s known for. It all comes from the heart.”

The album features several collaborations, including one with contemporary Christian artist, Travis Cottrell.

“Travis is also the worship leader at Brentwood Baptist Church, and my daughter married his son three years ago. We'd never done a collaboration until now, and I thought it'd be great to have Travis be part of this. It's an incredible song called 'Missing Jesus,' and my wife sings on it with us."

There are also collaborations with the Gaither Vocal Band and Alabama. 

He not only now tours with Alabama, but he also produces for the Gaither Vocal Band. 

Music has been extremely good to him.

“I work with some of the most talented people on the planet, people I could only dream of even meeting. I feel so blessed. I pinch myself every day."